I've read the posts on AR15 and on this board. I think this is a valid topic for discussion, as most of us have purchased or will purchase something on a forum.
I'm not bashing AR15.com as a site, but the situation has been poorly handled. A crisis has developed as a result. A crisis usually has four factors:
1) Substantial loss is at stake.
Yeah, this is not the Cuban missle crisis, but $9000+ has changed hands and gone down a hole.
2) Little time is available to act.
The folks who sent their money in know that the longer they go without a refund, the less likely they are to get a refund
3) High uncertainty exists because of an utter lack of critical information.
Here is the responsibility of the forum. I saw numerous cryptic messages from moderators/administrators alluding to behind-the-scenes inquiries, telling folks to back off. These types of machinations by the administrators are fueling the fire and escalting the situation because they lack any useful information and verge on flippant in their prose.
4)There is a sense of narrowing options for resolving the crisis
With the forum owners witholding information, Paul threatening legal action and folks offering hackneyed 'caveat emptor' posts, the folks who were defrauded are seeing no way out.
While the owners/administators of the forum are not responsible for the initial fiasco, the are responsible for perpetuating a crisis by:
1) their failure to provide information to the defrauded regarding their grievances. No matter what the reason for the mags not being available (a factor obviously beyond the control of AR15.com), AR15.com has to determine why refunds have not been promptly issued AND they have to share this information with their readers.
2) failing to set up a schedule for proposed solutions (e.g. refunds), thereby perpetuating the urgency factor. In a vacuum of information, people assume the guy has spent the money on something else and has insufficient funds for refunds. These people want their money NOW, because the longer this goes on, the more likely it is they will never get a dime back.
3) By failing to reassure their readers/posters that they are vigorously pursuing every option to secure a refund.
Lots of lessons to be learned here, and caveat emptor is just one of them.
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TRAVELLER, SHOULD YOUR ROAD LEAD YOU TO SPARTA, TELL THEM THAT YOU SAW US LYING HERE AS THE LAWS WILLED IT.
-Inscription on a Greek monument to Leonidas and his soldiers
) required a retainer in the multi thousands of dollars and charges the meager fee of $250 an hour PLUS ALL expenses. I say, let him sue! I guess I'm kinda punchy since I just received my monthly invoice from my lawyer. 
